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    Originally posted by peekay View Post


    I think he scored in every CL quarter final he played for us

    Sami
    To be fair though, you could say the same about me.
    .
    Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.



    May the Lord bless this post.

    Comment


      Originally posted by Neil Young View Post
      To be fair though, you could say the same about me.
      Yeah but yours were dogs
      Bob Paisley - "This club has been my life. I'd go out and sweep the street and be proud to do it for Liverpool if they asked me to."

      Comment


        Originally posted by Exiled_red View Post
        In fairness Skrtel has 2 goals in about 20 games this season, if he carried on that record for the rest of the season and finished with 5 that would be a decent return for a centre back.
        this is true but still neither is a threat from a corner

        Comment


          Originally posted by Neil Young View Post
          To be fair though, you could say the same about me.
          No, you couldn't. But there are many, many other things that we could say about you.

          Comment


            Name one CL quarterfinal when I played for LFC when I didn't score at least one goal. Not one quarterfinal tie even, just one match, a single leg.

            You can't because there isn't one.
            .
            Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.



            May the Lord bless this post.

            Comment


              Originally posted by Neil Young View Post
              Name one CL quarterfinal when I played for LFC when I didn't score at least one goal. Not one quarterfinal tie even, just one match, a single leg.

              You can't because there isn't one.
              You are aware that the argument hinges on you having actually played for Liverpool in a CL quarter final, right?

              On the basis of your logic, I'd like to make it clear that there isn't one time that I slept with Sue Pollard without making her orgasm 57 times.

              Comment


                I heard that, yeah.
                Last edited by Neil Young; 05-01-12, 12:27 AM.
                .
                Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.



                May the Lord bless this post.

                Comment


                  Originally posted by Neil Young View Post
                  I heard that, yeah.
                  A picture from my private collection:


                  Q

                  Comment


                    .
                    Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.



                    May the Lord bless this post.

                    Comment


                      Originally posted by Neil Young View Post
                      I heard that, yeah.
                      Why remove the Groucho reference, Neil? Worried that a man of your socialist sensibilities shouldn't really know about such capitalist and hedonistic venues?

                      Comment


                        I thought it read better.

                        I haven't been in the Groucho for years, maybe a decade.
                        .
                        Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.



                        May the Lord bless this post.

                        Comment


                          Originally posted by ric.williams View Post
                          this is true but still neither is a threat from a corner
                          In his last 25 starts Skrtel has scored 3 times, all from corners. On current form at least, he is definitely a threat from corners.
                          .
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                          .

                          Comment


                            Originally posted by Pepe79 View Post
                            In his last 25 starts Skrtel has scored 3 times, all from corners. On current form at least, he is definitely a threat from corners.


                            He's also winning a lot in the oppositions area and has come close with a couple of chances. I'd definitely say that as far as defenders go, he's definitely a goal threat this season.

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by Lee View Post


                              He's also winning a lot in the oppositions area and has come close with a couple of chances. I'd definitely say that as far as defenders go, he's definitely a goal threat this season.
                              Agreed

                              Comment


                                The demands of a young family have reduced Martin Skrtel's interaction with the Liverpool public yet he remains acutely aware of how they perceive him. It was four years ago today that Rafael Benítez's search for a young, commanding central defender concluded in the £6.5m signing of the Slovakia international from Zenit St Petersburg. It is only now that he feels the unconditional acceptance of Anfield.

                                A reflection of Skrtel's form, and the finest compliment to his partnership with Daniel Agger, is that Jamie Carragher's time as an automatic selection in the heart of the Liverpool defence has ended in smooth transition and minus the consequences that would once have been inevitable. Only Manchester City, Liverpool opponents tonight in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg, boast a better defensive record than Kenny Dalglish's team in the Premier League. The most consistent and authoritative performances of Skrtel's Anfield career have been instrumental in that foundation and, though he flatly denies feeling assured of a starting role under Dalglish, he concedes the fight to prove himself at Liverpool has finally swung his way.

                                "I don't go to the city centre now because I am busy with my young baby but, of course, I can see people look at me in a different way now to how they were looking at me before and I am happy about that," the 27-year-old says. "I can say that two years ago there were doubts about me. I could see in their reaction that they didn't think I was consistent. They were undecided about me so I hope for the last year I've shown that I am good enough and that I can play for Liverpool."

                                Skrtel, after much cajoling, is prepared to admit that "this is the best period in my career and definitely since I came here to Liverpool," and credits Dalglish and his assistant, Steve Clarke, with improving the entire back-line during their year at the helm. "We work a lot in training on defending with Steve and that has probably helped not only me but all the guys who play at the back," he says. "Since Kenny and Steve have come in [one year ago this week] the atmosphere changed around the team. Everything is much, much better now. If I feel the confidence from the manager that is important for me and maybe that is the reason."

                                As with so many centre-halves at a new club and with a sizeable transfer fee, Skrtel made an ignominious start to his career in England. His full debut for Liverpool came in the remarkable FA Cup fourth-round tie against Havant and Waterlooville when, having erred as the non-league side twice took the lead at Anfield and given a nervous display, he needed consoling words from Benítez to recover.

                                "I remember just going back to my hotel knowing it was not my best performance," Skrtel recalls. "I knew the people were talking about me – that I wasn't good enough for Liverpool and that the club had paid a lot of money for me. For me it was important that Rafa said, 'Don't worry about this game. Look ahead to the next game, I will give you a chance and you have to show you are a better player.'"

                                Skrtel improved rapidly but those early months in a strange land continued to present problems. He admits: "It was very difficult at first. I came from Russia, everything was different. It was a big club. One of the biggest in the world. It was a little bit strange for me, you know, because I came here to be in the dressing room with players like Stevie [Gerrard], Fernando [Torres] and Carra. I wasn't used to that. I couldn't speak English, I couldn't understand the lads and the first thing I did was to try and sort that out the language problems. On the pitch I didn't start well either, against Havant.

                                "For me the Premier League is the best competition in the world with the best players and it is not easy to settle down. I also needed to learn the way of the game, the speed of the game. The game here was much, much harder than it was in Slovakia and Russia."

                                One aspect of Skrtel's Liverpool career that has not changed is his luck at City, or, more accurately, his lack of it. The Slovakian ruptured a cruciate ligament in a 3-2 win at what was then Eastlands in 2008, suffered a head injury in another visit and last week conceded the penalty that sealed City's 3-0 league win and prompted Roberto Mancini to wave an imaginary and unsavoury red card demanding his dismissal.

                                "This is a chance not only for me but for everyone who is working at the club," insists Skrtel. "It is a semi-final and I think it will be a totally different game to the last one in the league. We have two games and have to give it all. Personally, I got an injury there and there was the penalty in the last game. I think it is time for a change in my luck."

                                Liverpool, meanwhile, are interested in Sporting Lisbon's promising 18-year-old midfielder, Joao Teixeira.

                                Defensive duos of the past at Anfield

                                Emlyn Hughes and Phil Thompson 1973-1979

                                Bill Shankly's decision to pair the midfielders in defence proved an inspired one. Their ease in possession and impressive passing range enhanced Liverpool's approach play and formed the foundations of the team that won the first two of the club's five European Cups, in 1977 and 1978. They were also part of the 1979 title-winning defence that conceded a record low 16 goals in 42 games.

                                Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson 1981-1988

                                Regarded as Anfield's best central-defensive partnership, right, and one that helped Liverpool win five league titles and a third European Cup, in 1984. The Match of the Day pundits complimented each other perfectly, with Hansen noted for his timing and distribution skills and Lawrenson renowned for his strength, speed and tackling.

                                Sami Hyypia and Stéphane Henchoz 1999-2004

                                Signed by Gérard Houllier at the start of his first full season in charge of the club, this unheralded due formed the bedrock of the side that won three trophies in 2001. Like Hansen and Lawrenson, they complimented each other perfectly, with Hyypia's elegance matched by Henchoz's scuttling, never-say-die approach.

                                Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher 2004-2009

                                Having taken over from Houllier, Rafael Benítez replaced Henchoz with Jamie Carragher, who had up to then been playing at full-back. He and Hyypia formed a wall of resistance that proved crucial to the club's memorable 2004-05 Champions League campaign, with the pair excelling as Liverpool rose from the dead to beat Milan in the final.

                                That rug really tied the room together.

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